A study published in the journal Brain & Behavior reveals that insomnia patients who use cannabis products experience sustained improvements in sleep quality. Conducted in the UK, the research assessed the safety and efficacy of plant-derived cannabis products in over 60 patients, showing significant enhancements in sleep, reduced anxiety, and improved quality of life.
In London, United Kingdom, a groundbreaking study has demonstrated that insomnia patients consuming cannabis products report lasting improvements in their sleep quality. This research, detailed in the journal Brain & Behavior, involved the assessment of plant-derived cannabis products, including oils and flower, on over 60 patients registered in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. These patients, authorized by doctors to access cannabis products, showed significant improvements in sleep quality, anxiety reduction, and overall quality of life over one, three, and six months.
Since 2018, UK specialists have been allowed to prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients who do not respond to conventional treatments. The study’s findings indicate that cannabis products were “well tolerated” by patients, marking a significant step forward in the treatment of insomnia. More than 40 percent of participants reported clinically significant improvements in sleep quality at each assessed time period, highlighting the potential of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMP) therapy for those unresponsive to existing insomnia treatments.
This research aligns with other studies assessing cannabis products’ effectiveness in treating chronic pain, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, depression, migraine, inflammatory bowel disease, and more. Previous placebo-controlled clinical trials have also confirmed the efficacy of plant-derived cannabis extracts in managing chronic insomnia, further supporting cannabis’s therapeutic potential.
Why It Matters: The study’s findings underscore the therapeutic potential of cannabis for improving sleep quality in insomnia patients, especially those who have not found relief through traditional medications. This research contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting cannabis’s role in treating various medical conditions and improving patients’ quality of life.
Potential Implications: The positive outcomes of this study could lead to broader acceptance and use of cannabis-based medicinal products in treating insomnia and other conditions. It may also encourage further research into cannabis’s therapeutic benefits and influence policy changes regarding cannabis use for medicinal purposes.
Source: NORML
